'Always-on' fandoms: How esports communities are shaping the future of games | Playable Futures

gamesindustry.biz:

Will Freeman

Thursday 17th March 2022

Playable Futures is a collection of insights, interviews and articles from global games leaders sharing their visions of where the industry will go next. This article series has been brought to you by GamesIndustry.biz, Ukie, Sumo Group and Diva.

The rise of esports in recent years has been unmissable. It's influence on the future of games as a medium, industry and cultural artefact, then, is likely to be tremendous.

Aside from all its success and growth, esports has also significantly shifted the status of the player, elevating consumers to exist as important focal points for vast communities. Esports devotees are much more than a passive audience to be sold products - they are competitors, content creators, and in some cases, adored superstars with larger fanbases than many successful games.

A new model of what fandom can offer continues to emerge within esports, and it's an opportunity many other gaming companies away from the core of esports might be wise to embrace.

The Power of Creators

Craig Levine is co-CEO at long-standing esports organisation, ESL Gaming. He has seen first-hand how esports have reshaped the industry-audience dynamic, and it's given him reason to be confident that it offers remarkable potential. Today, esports' focus on players is powerful in a myriad ways.

Craig Levne, ESL

"We're currently in a world where players and influencers bring the power of creators, and that means a sort of this infinite distribution opportunity," he offers. "There are so many niche communities within esports - and here 'niche' doesn't mean small. I think 'niche' means focused. There are some very, very large niches in competitive gaming. The superstars of esports that come out are these